NSC mourns as president of Nigeria Aquatics Federation dies

NSC mourns as president of Nigeria Aquatics Federation dies

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Chamberlain Nnamdi Dunkwu, President of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAqF), whose death has brought sadness to the Nigerian sports community.

Dr. Dunkwu was widely recognized for his strong commitment to the advancement of aquatic sports in Nigeria. During his tenure, he worked tirelessly to strengthen the structure of swimming and other water sports while creating opportunities for young athletes to develop their talents and represent the country with pride.

Reacting to the sad development, the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, described Dr. Dunkwu’s passing as a painful loss to Nigerian sports.

“The news of Dr. Chamberlain Dunkwu’s passing is deeply saddening. He was a committed sports administrator who devoted his energy to the growth of aquatic sports in Nigeria. His passion for discovering and nurturing young talents will not be forgotten.”

“Dr. Dunkwu believed strongly in the power of sports to transform lives, especially among young people. His vision for aquatic sports development was clear, and his dedication to that cause was admirable. The Nigerian sports family will surely miss his leadership, wisdom, and enthusiasm.”

Sources close to the family confirmed that Dunkwu collapsed at his residence on Saturday morning while preparing to leave for a scheduled sporting event at the stadium. Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.

A close associate said the late sports administrator had been actively involved in preparations for the “Swim to the Future” programme, an event aimed at discovering and nurturing young swimming talents across the country. Dunkwu had reportedly been at the stadium on Friday overseeing final arrangements for the event, which was scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Just days before his passing, Dunkwu led a high-level delegation from the federation on a courtesy visit to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Idi Abbas, at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja. The visit reaffirmed the longstanding partnership between the federation and the Nigerian Navy in promoting aquatic sports development.

The delegation was received on behalf of the naval chief by J. N. Maman, Chief of Administration at Naval Headquarters, alongside other senior naval officers.

Dunkwu was elected president of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation in October 2025 for the 2025–2029 board cycle. Since assuming office, he had been spearheading an ambitious grassroots development programme designed to strengthen swimming in Nigeria through school-based, junior, and regional competitions.

His efforts were part of a broader plan to improve Nigeria’s performance in aquatic sports and expand talent discovery nationwide.